A caveat—if you are at all interested in historical accuracy or it seems the faithfulness to the source material, this show will likely make you feel awkward but great. It’s clear the show was going for a modern, rebellious take on a period drama, but it completely misses the mark. The music, dialogue, and aesthetics are stylish.
Only in the first few episodes, but the loud, garish Americans have descended on London and are looking very foolish—lots of ridiculous shrieking from the young ladies; this would’ve been completely out of line for young ladies then—hoping this is intentional to show how much they grow by show’s end? But there is more than that.
Yes the show may not be completely historically accurate, but does that take away from the acting? Set? Romance? Hot actors? No. Absolutely not. If you want steamy romance, plot twists, and some Taylor Swift, watch it NOW. You won’t regret it. It gets better and better each episode, and the season finale is like the rom-com ending you’re always hoping for.
The Season 1 Summary
It had absolutely everything and more you would want in a period drama. It also covered a lot of interesting topics such as women having to be silent, abuse, loveless marriages, and unfaithfulness. It started with annoying Americans laughing and being silly, but managed to transform into each character having a really important story with the screeching young girls climbing walls, dropping a shoe in a cake, and making a mockery of the simplicity of just being American.
The “will she or won’t she” romantic triangle between Nan, Theo, and Guy is a joy, the scenery and costumes are spectacular.
The Season 2
The Buccaneers is an absolutely addictive and well-written show that will captivate you from start to finish! The costumes and gorgeous set design transport you directly into its world. The five ladies of the title are all very good, the men are suitably handsome and roguish where necessary to add a bit of spice to proceedings.
That said, the story has been greatly condensed, which leaves a dissatisfied feeling. Twenty-first century audiences presumably can’t take in such a broad historical sweep as to tell the full, unedited story. Presumably, that was the Apple executive’s belief.
The Loopholes
The show runner was going for the vibe on “Dickinson”, playing contemporary pop music and 21st century teen mannerisms off of 19th-century formality. It doesn’t work here. The writing here isn’t nearly as clever, nor are the young actresses as convincing as their counterparts on “Dickinson”. The original plot serves as the basis for the storyline, but lots of liberties have been taken with what transpires here.
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The Characters
It’s fun and the characters all have easy-to-understand motivations for what they do. Nan and her gang are hyper. The actors and actresses did the best with what they were given and it was somewhat of an enjoyable series. The main character, Nan, is a lying, cheating, selfish, self-absorbed brat.
The real hero of the show is Theo, a man who, despite the expectations for a Duke during that time, chooses to not care about his image and wants to be with the woman he loves, regardless of the consequences. That showed more courage than anything the brash, self-important American girls did. Sadly the woman he loves is Nan, who is happy to use him for the power and privilege he can offer.
The Conclusion
The supporting characters aren’t much better. The Duke’s best friend literally goes after his fiancée with no remorse, and it’s brushed off like normal drama. The friendships and relationships are all built on betrayal, lies, or shallow connection there’s no real emotional depth here. Every time it tries to make a bold statement, it just comes off messy and immature.
It’s clear the show was going for a modern, rebellious take on a period drama, but it completely misses the mark. The music, dialogue, and aesthetics are stylish, but when the writing is this weak, it doesn’t matter. If you’re thinking of watching for romance, drama, or strong character arcs don’t. It’s all flash, no substance. Not worth the time
IMDb rating – 6.7/10
Written by Nilesh Shiv